RAJSHAHI, March 2, 2022 (BSS) - The government has, so far, procured
around 1.62 lakh tonnes of Aman rice during the current procurement drive
contributing a lot towards ensuring food security.  

    As part of the nationwide ongoing Aman rice procurement drive, the
government has procured the food grain from all eight districts in Rajshahi
division.  

    Faruque Hossain Patwary, Regional Controller of Food, said they procured
around 1,62,312.85 tonnes of boiled rice at the rate of Taka 40 per kilogram
till Tuesday last.  

    He said the procurement drive of the newly harvested rice is going on in
full-swing everywhere in the division that created a high hope of ensuring
food security.  

    Faruque Patwary said the government has set a target of procuring
1,62,374 tonnes of boiled rice during the current drive. He said they will
procure 2,904 tonnes of rice from the growers directly.  

    Contracts have been signed with 3,951 millers for collecting 1,62,373.73
tonnes of boiled rice.  

    They also procured 5,575.56 tonnes of paddy till the same day. Target has
been set to procure 43,404 tonnes of paddy at Taka 27 per kilogram, he added.  

    Meanwhile, farmers have harvested around 24.13 lakh tonnes of
Transplanted Aman rice from 7.79 lakh hectares of land as its harvesting
process ended recently everywhere in Rajshahi division contributing a lot to
ensure food security.  

    Faruque Patwary said they are selling rice and flour among the consumers
at the subsidized rate of Taka 30 and Taka 18 respectively.

     "We have sold 12,037.34 tonnes of rice and 10,900 tonnes of flour
through the appointed dealers so far in all eight districts of the division,"
he added.

    Another 32,891.18 tonnes of rice and 12,147.98 tonnes of flowers were
also sold through the appointed dealers under open market sale programme to
help the less-income groups of people to mitigate their hardship being caused
by the Covid-19 pandemic.